FHWA NBI 2024 Inspection record Public-domain dataset

ELM Rd

Carrying ELM Rd over GRIMES Ditch

00.10 S of MADISON Rd, St. Joseph, Indiana

Data updated May 2026

FHWA NBI record, refreshed with each annual release.

Poor
30 t Inventory load rating

Bridge Snapshot: ELM Rd

The ELM Rd bridge in St. Joseph, Indiana carries ELM Rd over GRIMES Ditch. It was built in 1979, making it 47 years old today. The structure is built primarily of prestressed concrete and spans 1 section, stretching 14.0 meters (46 feet) end to end. Daily traffic averages 1,207 vehicles, placing it in the moderately-trafficked tier of Indiana bridges. It is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

The latest FHWA inspection records show a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure at 4/9, substructure at 4/9. The weakest component sits in poor condition. Because at least one major component scores 4 or lower, this bridge falls in FHWA's Poor condition category. That category is not a closure order. Its NBI inventory load rating is 29.6 metric tons.

Sourced from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for refresh cadence and NBI release vintage.

How ELM Rd compares

▼ 6.0
Load rating vs Indiana average (35.6 t)
Bottom 25%
Lower load rating than 75% of Indiana bridges
228
Bridges in St. Joseph · 9 in Poor condition
ELM Rd 29.6 t
Indiana average 35.6 t

Live comparison across Indiana.

Historical Sufficiency Rating

PlainBridge-computed
52.5 / 100 - historical 50–79.9 band
Structural adequacy /55
28.5
Serviceability /30
12.4
Essentiality /15
14.6
Special reductions
−3.0

FHWA discontinued this calculated item; it does not determine current condition, funding eligibility, posting, or closure. How the historical reference is calculated.

Condition Ratings

Deck
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Superstructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Substructure
4/9
Poor (1–4)
Inventory Load Rating
29.6 t
NBI inventory level (metric tons)
Overall Condition
Poor

Full 0–9 scale + sufficiency-rating breakdown: how condition ratings work.

Structural Details

Year Built
1979
Material
Prestressed Concrete
Number of Spans
1
Structure Length
14.0 m (46 ft)
Deck Width
8.5 m (28 ft)
Owner
County Highway Agency
Avg Daily Traffic
1,207 vehicles/day
Structure Number
7100026

Condition Analysis

  • The deck (driving surface) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
  • The superstructure (beams and supports above the deck) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.
  • The substructure (piers and abutments) rates poor at 4/9, advanced deterioration that should be prioritized for repair.

How to read this record

ELM Rd is in the federal Poor condition category. That is a component-based result, not a closure order.

  • NBI condition ratings reflect the latest record in this annual dataset, not a live status. Current routine inspection intervals are risk-based.
  • Understand what Poor condition does and does not mean before drawing conclusions. Poor condition explained
  • Compare ELM Rd against other structures in St. Joseph and across Indiana. Indiana bridges
  • Noticed visible damage or a safety concern? Report it to the agency that owns the bridge, or call 911 in an emergency. How to report a bridge

Condition codes come straight from the FHWA National Bridge Inventory and are not a real-time safety judgment. Only the owning agency, a state DOT, county, or other owner, can post, restrict, or close a bridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the condition ratings mean for ELM Rd?

ELM Rd in St. Joseph, Indiana has a deck rating of 4/9, superstructure rating of 4/9, and substructure rating of 4/9 on the FHWA's 0–9 scale.

How often is ELM Rd inspected?

ELM Rd's responsible agency sets its routine interval under FHWA's risk-based inspection rules; this page does not expose the scheduled interval. It carries about 1,207 vehicles per day.

What does “structurally deficient” mean in older bridge reports?

FHWA retired that reported status beginning with the 2018 archive. ELM Rd is currently shown as Poor condition from its component ratings; that category is not a live closure or safety decision.

What is the inventory load rating for ELM Rd?

ELM Rd has an NBI inventory load rating of 29.6 metric tons.

Who is responsible for maintaining ELM Rd?

ELM Rd is owned and maintained by County Highway Agency.

How old is ELM Rd and does age affect safety?

ELM Rd was built in 1979, making it 47 years old.

Disclaimer: Bridge condition data is from the FHWA NBI and reflects the last reported inspection. A Poor condition rating is not a live declaration that a bridge is closed or unsafe for travel. For current closure, posting, or safety information, contact the responsible transportation agency.

Data sourced from the Federal Highway Administration National Bridge Inventory. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBridges

Every figure on PlainBridge is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.